this house...made new

my home

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a look down the street

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Up and down Brunson Street in the snow and in the summer.

Along the "main drag" Payne Avenue, one block away.

3 bed/2 bath home

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Built in 1907. Estimated to be about 1,000 square feet of finished space. A 1 1/2 story home situated in St. Paul’s revitalized, historic East Side, in a quaint community called Railroad Island or Little Italy. Home to the newest wave of immigrants throughout the generations: Swedes, Italians, first wave Mexicans, now Hmong, Vietnamese, retiring boomers and young new urbanites, relocating to the city’s inner ring.
• Comfortable for 3-5 persons.
• Open front porch/enclosed back porches—2 levels
• Central Air for the summer.
• Gas furnace for the winter.
• New, energy efficient, double-pane windows.
• Washer and drier in the basement. I prefer the wash line on a pulley in the back yard.

1st story rooms

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Spacious kitchen, dining and living area on the main floor.

Cooking in the kitchen.

Full bathroom, tub/shower combination, newly remodeled. ...sorry, all I have evidence of the remodeling process.

Master Bedroom, newly remodeled, huge closet.

2nd story rooms

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2 private rooms with single beds. One opens up to the second level porch, facing the back yard.

The third upper level room is a walk through room that can be used as a study or a sitting room, equipped with a daybed which can be used as a couch.

1 full 2nd story bathroom, tub/shower combination.

yard and boulevard

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Full backyard patio with privacy fence. There is enough room to park the car to get it off the street and have plenty of space left for a picnic.
The front yard is surrounded with a chain link fence. Although there have been no pets in my home for 10 years, a small pet or children would love this area.

I've just planted two perennial gardens in the boulevard and two young crabapple trees.

the Brunson House

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The Brunson House

Just one block away. This structure anchors the Island as one of St. Paul's oldest neighborhoods. Built in 1858. The second oldest house in the city. The house and the street running by it is named after Benjamin Brunson. It is listed on the Twin cities Parade of Homes.

If one were to compare the difference between Minneapolis and St. Paul, she might say, "St. Paul has just as much activity, it's a bit more calm and subdued. The nights are quiet and the days are bustling in St. Paul. But if you want the all night-time lights and bustle of Minneapolis, it's just across the river. St. Paul is the home of stately mansions and old world flair. Minneapolis is hip and modern.

commuting

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Situated 2-3 blocks away from 2-4 bus lines running directly to downtown St. Paul. The train line down University Avenue has yet to connect St. Paul to Minneapolis. But once it is up and running, it will be very NICE.

Follow this link to
Metro Transit

neighbors

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Every year there is a block party organized by a core group of neighbors who have taken it upon themselves to improve the camaraderie and neighborhood feel of Railroad Island. Old neighbors come back to relive the memories of when once they lived here. There have been neighbor craft nights for the ladies and book clubs for the readers. All of it involves a lot of homemade food. The Italians and Americans bring their hamburgers and hotdogs. The African-Americans bring their spaghetti and chicken. The Vietnamese bring egg rolls. And the Germans bring potato salad. There is Mexican salsa. And last year there was even a Polka Band.

neighborhood favorites

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Unique eateries dot our neighborhood landscape. Savoy's Inn makes one of the City's best Pizza. Carbone's is one of those Italian places that had their start in the East side and has expanded to become a chain. The Swede Hollow Cafe is a relic of the past, hanging its shingle out on one of St. Paul's oldest structures. In the summer you can sit outside in their vegetable and herb garden. It's just on the other side of the hollow, serving coffee and the city's best sticky roll as well as lunch soups and sandwiches. The Minnesota Music Cafe offers its food drink and music venues two blocks away. The Water and Oil Art Gallery has found a home in the warehouse space along Payne, next to DeCarlos Hair design and the Fire station. The firefighters can be seen jogging through the Island, staying fit between calls. DeCarlos has been in the neighborhood for ages. The husband and wife team at DeCarlos offer years of experience and great cuts for low prices.
Minnesota Music Café
Water and Oil Art Gallery
Savoy's
Carbone's
Swede Hollow Cafe

neighborhood

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Numerous old-generation and new generation Italians still live here. Two Italian businesses remain, just a few blocks away, as pillars in the Payne-Phalen business district: Morelli’s and Yarusso Brothers.

Morelli's

Yarusso's

an evening walk

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The entrance to Swede Hollow Park and the Bruce Vento nature Sanctuary beyond it is just 3 block away. Here is my exchange student with her friends, pictured against the city skyline. The park is patrolled at dusk. Walkers and commuter cyclists frequent it daily. I'm a runner and a cyclist and have used the park frequently. Its cycling trails link to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and to the wider network of trails in the city and State.

Swede Hollow Park
Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary

Check out the City of St. Paul's website to keep tabs on how its citizens are making it "The most livable city in America."
City of St. Paul

my home

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another angle

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